Mobile device for displaying information content

ABSTRACT

A mobile device for displaying information content, including: at least one input key associated with a display; a display for displaying information content with a first orientation and control content, adjacent an input key, indicating its function; and a processor, for controlling the display, arranged to vary the first orientation of the information content to a second orientation and maintain control content adjacent the input key. A mobile device for displaying information content, including: a user interface including at least one input key and a display, having a variable display area, for displaying within the variable display area information content; a user input device; and a processor, for controlling the display, arranged to vary the display area of the display in response to input from the user input device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to a mobile device for displayinginformation content.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Current mobile devices display information content in a mannerdetermined at manufacture. Some mobile devices have two physicallydistinct configurations where the whole of the display is used in‘portrait’ for one configuration and the whole of the display is used in‘landscape’ in the other configuration. A dedicated hardware switchdetects when the user converts the device between configurations by, forexample, opening or folding the device.

It would be desirable to allow the manner in which information ispresented by the mobile device to be varied as and when is suitable. Inparticular, it would be desirable to allow a user flexibility incontrolling the variation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment there is provided a mobile device fordisplaying information content, comprising: at least one input keyassociated with a display; a display for displaying information contentwith a first orientation and control content, adjacent an input key,indicating its function; and a processor, for controlling the display,arranged to vary the first orientation of the information content to asecond orientation and maintain control content adjacent the input key.

According to the first embodiment there is provided a method ofcontrolling the display of a mobile device comprising the steps of:displaying information content with a first orientation and controlcontent adjacent an input key, indicating the key's function ; andchanging the first orientation to a second orientation while maintainingcontrol content adjacent the input key.

The orientation of the information content independently of the controlcontent allows information to be presented the correct way up withoutchanging the orientation of the mobile device and without affecting thefunctionality of the device.

When the information content orientation is changed, the control contentassociated with a first input key may be swapped with the controlcontent associated with a second input key. When the information contentorientation is changed, the orientation of the control content may bechanged.

According to a second embodiment there is provided a mobile device fordisplaying information content, comprising: a user interface includingat least one input key and a display, having a variable display area,for displaying within the variable display area information content; auser input device; and a processor, for controlling the display,arranged to vary the display area of the display in response to inputfrom the user input device.

According to the second embodiment there is provided a method ofcontrolling the display of a mobile device comprising the steps of:displaying information content within a first display area; and changingthe size of the first display area while displaying the informationcontent in response to input from a user.

The resizing of the display area for the information content may enablethe creation of information content in the mobile device that can beviewed correctly on another device and may enable the correctpresentation of information content in the mobile device that wascreated on another device. This is particularly useful when theinformation content is a picture made up of a collection of spacedalphanumeric characters and the similarity of the collection ofalphanumeric characters to the picture depends upon the display area inwhich the alphanumeric characters are framed.

According to a third embodiment there is provided a mobile device fordisplaying information content, comprising: a display for displayinginformation content in a display area of a user-determined size andorientation; a user input device; and a processor, for controlling thedisplay, operable to vary the user-determined orientation and/or size ofthe display area, in response to inputs from the user input device.

According to the third embodiment there is provided a method ofcontrolling the display of a mobile device comprising the steps of:displaying information content within a first display area with a firstorientation; changing the size of the first display area; and changingthe orientation of the information content.

The ability to be able to both re-size what is displayed and to changeits orientation, enables a user to share information content receivedfrom another device with a person standing next to them in the formcreated by the originator and without having to rotate the mobiledevice.

The software control of the orientation of the information content maybe incorporated within the game-play of a game played by a user on themobile device. It may also enable the handedness of the mobile device tobe changed, so that it can be switched from right-handed use toleft-handed use.

The term information content includes map images, photographic images,alphanumeric text messages and images from games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention reference will nowbe made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a hand-held mobile device 10 fordisplaying information to a user.

FIG. 2 illustrates one possible user interface for the mobile device 10

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the successive rotation of theinformation content without rotation of control content;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D illustrate the successive rotation of theinformation content with rotation of control content;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D illustrate the successive rotation of theinformation content with rotation and interchange of control content;and

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C illustrate the successive reduction in size of adisplay area with each actuation of the user input device.

DETAIILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVNETION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a hand-held mobile device 10 fordisplaying information to a user. The mobile device 10 may be a personaldigital assistant, a mobile telephone or the like. The mobile device 10illustrated in this example is a mobile telephone.

The mobile device 10 comprises: a processor 12; a memory 14; a display20; a first input key 30 and a second input key 31; a user input device40; and a radio frequency transceiver 50.

The processor 12 receives input from the first input key 30, the secondinput key 31, the user input device 40 and the radio frequencytransceiver 50. The processor 12 provides outputs to the display 20 andthe radio frequency transceiver 50. The processor 12 can also read fromand write to the memory 14.

The operation of the mobile device 10 is controlled by software computerprogram instructions loaded into the processor 12 from the memory 14.

FIG. 2 illustrates one possible user interface for the mobile device 10.The first input key 30 and the second input key 31 are located betweenthe user input device 40 and the display 20, adjacent an edge 21 of thedisplay 20. The user input device 40 is, in this example, a five-wayinput key but it could be any suitable type of input device such as ajoystick or a rotator dial. The function of the user input device 40 isnot dedicated as the processor 12 is operable to vary its function underthe control of the software loaded into the processor 12.

The display 20 has a first portion 22 and a second portion 23 at theedge 21 adjacent the first input key 30 and the second input key 31respectively. The first portion 22 is an array of pixels centred at afirst off-centre origin 24. The second portion 23 is an array of pixelscentred at a second off-centre origin 25. The display 20 also has acentral display area 26 centred on an origin 27 towards the centre ofthe display 20.

The display is controlled by the processor 12 to display content. Thiscontent may include information content that is displayed in the centraldisplay area 26 and first and second control content that is displayedin the first and second portions 22, 23 respectively.

The first control content displayed in the first display portion 22,indicates the function of the adjacent first input key 30 associatedwith that display portion. The first input key 30 is a “soft” orprogrammable key. The processor 12 is operable, under the control of theloaded software, to change the function of the first input key 30 and tosimultaneously change the first control content to indicate the newfunction of the first input key 30 to a user.

The second control content displayed in the second display portion 23,indicates the function of the adjacent second input key 31 associatedwith that display portion. The second input key 31 is a “soft” orprogrammable key. The processor 12 is operable, under the control of theloaded software, to change the function of the second input key 31 andto simultaneously change the second control content to indicate the newfunction of the second input key 31 to a user.

The information content displayable in the central display area 26conveys information to the user as opposed to describing the functionsor operating conditions of the device. The information content may beimages produced while playing a game, a photographic image, text, a map,content received from another user via the radio frequency transceiver50, content composed by the user etc.

The orientation of the displayed information content can be controlledby a user of the device 10. Depending upon how this feature isimplemented, the user may rotate the information content within a fixeddisplay area or may rotate a display area where the orientation of theinformation content is fixed within the display area. In the following,the latter implementation will be described, although this is notintended to limit the invention as claimed. The display area 26 ispreferably, but not necessarily square.

The processor 12 controls the display 20. It is operable, when in a userselected “rotating mode”, to respond to user input via the user inputdevice to rotate the display area 26 in increments of ninety degree. Theuser can therefore, with successive actuations of the user input device40, change the orientation of the information content. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and3C illustrate the successive rotation of the information content aboutthe central origin 27 by 90 degree increments in the clockwisedirection. In this example the user input device 40 is a rotator wheeland turning the rotator wheel in a clockwise direction rotates theinformation content in clockwise increments of 90 degrees and turningthe rotator wheel in an anti-clockwise direction rotates the informationcontent in anti-clockwise increments of 90 degrees.

As the processor varies the orientation of the information content, thefirst and second control content remains in the first and secondportions 22, 23 of the display adjacent their associated input keys 30,31.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the control content hasa fixed position and a fixed orientation.

In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the processor, isoperable to rotate the first and second control content about theirrespective first and second off-centre origins 24, 25 synchronously withthe rotation of the information content. The incremental rotations ofthe first and second control content is at the same time, in the samedirection and by the same amount as the incremental rotations of theinformation content. The origins 27, 24 and 25 may be fixed or may betranslated slightly with each incremental rotation. FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and4D illustrate the successive rotation of the information content withrotation, but without movement or interchange of control content. Thusthe ‘negative’ action, which is “back” in this example is alwaysassociated with the same, second input key 32 and the ‘affirmative’action, which is “select” in this example is always associated with thesame, first input key 31. The orientation of “back” and “select” are,however, varied as the orientation of the information content varies.

In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the processor, isoperable to rotate control content associated with the first and secondinput keys 30, 31 synchronously with the rotation of the informationcontent and also interchange the functions (and therefore the controlcontent) associated with the first and second input keys 30, 31. Theincremental rotations of the control content is at the same time, in thesame direction and by the same amount as the incremental rotations ofthe information content. In these Figures there are four separatecontrol content elements “select”, a mail icon, a time indicator and“Back” located at four separate corners 21, 22, 23 and 24 of thedisplay. As the information content is rotated the control contentelements are interchanged between the corners 21, 22, 23 and 24. Thus inFIGS. 5A and 5D, the first input key is associated with the controlcontent element “Select” and in FIGS. 5B and 5C it is associated withthe “Back” control content element.

Therefore, before the change in orientation of the information contentthe first input key has a first function and is associated with firstcontrol content displayed adjacent it and the second input key has asecond function and is associated with second control content displayedadjacent it and after the change in orientation of the informationcontent the first input key has the second function and is associatedwith the second control content displayed adjacent it and the secondinput key has the first function and is associated with the firstcontrol content displayed adjacent it.

The variation of the orientation of the information content and controlcontent can occur while it is being displayed.

Alternatively, or in addition to the variation of the orientation of theinformation content, the size of the display area 26 may be varied bythe user.

The processor 12 controls the display 20. It is operable, when in a userselected “resizing mode”, to respond to user input via the user inputdevice to change the size of the display area 26 incrementally. The usercan therefore, with successive actuations of the user input device 40,change the size of the display area. FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate thesuccessive reduction in size of display area 26 with each actuation ofthe user input device. The user input device may be a rotator wheel.Turning the rotator wheel in a clockwise direction reduces the displayarea 26. Turning the rotator wheel in anti-clockwise direction increasesthe display area 26.

In FIG. 6A, the display area 26 is at full size. The device 10 in thisexample is a NOKIA® 7210 mobile telephone. An alphanumeric text message,which has been composed on a NOKIA® 3310 mobile telephone and receivedby the mobile device 10 via the radio frequency transceiver 50, isdisplayed using a text message reader application. The message isdisplayed as information content in the display area 26. The user entersthe “resizing mode” and actuates the user input device 40. The processor12 responds by reducing the size of the display area 26 to that of aNOKIA® 3510 mobile telephone, which has a lower resolution of displaythan the NOKIA® 7210 mobile telephone as illustrated in FIG. 6B. Theuser then actuates the user input device 40 again and the processor 12responds by reducing the size of the display area 26 to that of a NOKIA®3310 mobile telephone, which has a lower resolution of display than theNOKIA® 3510 mobile telephone as illustrated in FIG. 6C. This reductionof the display area 26 recreates the alphanumeric text message in theform in which it was composed.

The incremental changes to the display area 26 with each actuation ofthe user input device 40 are predetermined. The incremental changes tothe display area are performed while displaying the information content.The areas of the display outside the display area may be disabled toconserve power.

In another implementation, the information content originates in themobile device 10 and not from another device. The processor 12, providesa text message composing application in which the display area is thearea in which the message can be composed.

In other implementations it is possible for the resizing of the displayarea to be automatic or semi-automatic. The mobile device 10 maydetermine the correct display area 26 for received information contentfrom a parameter received with the information content. The parametermay indicate the display area in which the message was composed, forexample. The mobile device 10 may determine the correct display area 26in which to compose information content for transmission to a particularperson, from a parameter stored in the mobile device. The parameter may,for example, indicate the maximum size of display area of the mobiledevice of that user. The mobile device 10 may automatically adjust thedisplay area size to the correct size or it may give the user the optionof switch to the correct display area size.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in thepreceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should beappreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

1-37. (canceled)
 38. A mobile device for displaying information content,comprising: at least one input key associated with a display; a displayfor displaying information content with a first orientation and controlcontent, adjacent an input key, indicating its function; and aprocessor, for controlling the display, arranged to vary the firstorientation of the information content to a second orientation andmaintain control content adjacent the input key, wherein the location ofthe input key does not vary when the orientation of the informationcontent is varied.
 39. A mobile device as claimed in claim 38, furthercomprising a user input device, wherein the processor is operable tovary the user-determined orientation of the information content andmaintain control content adjacent the input key, in response to inputfrom the user input device.
 40. A mobile device as claimed in claim 39,wherein the functionality of the user input device is controlled by theprocessor.
 41. A mobile device as claimed in claim 38, wherein theprocessor is arranged to vary the user determined orientation of theinformation content between four predetermined orientations.
 42. Amobile device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the processor is arrangedto vary the user determined orientation of the information content bysuccessive increments of 90 degrees rotation about a first origin in thedisplay.
 43. A mobile device as claimed in claim 38, wherein theprocessor, is operable to vary the user-determined orientation of theinformation content while it is displayed.
 44. A mobile device asclaimed in claim 38 wherein the control content for the input key variesas the function of the input key is varied by the processor.
 45. Amobile device as claimed in claim 38 wherein the processor, when varyingthe orientation of the information content maintains the same controlcontent adjacent the input key.
 46. A mobile device as claimed in claim38 wherein the control content has a fixed orientation with respect tothe mobile device.
 47. A mobile device as claimed in claim 38, whereinthe processor is operable to rotate the information content about afirst origin and simultaneously rotate the control content about asecond different origin, by ninety degrees.
 48. A mobile device asclaimed in claim 47, wherein the processor is operable to simultaneouslyrotate the information content and the control content, in response toinput from the user input device.
 49. A mobile device as claimed inclaim 47, wherein the first origin and the second origin are fixed. 50.A method of controlling the display of a mobile device comprising thesteps of: displaying information content with a first orientation andcontrol content adjacent an input key, indicating the key's function;and changing the first orientation to a second orientation whilemaintaining the control content adjacent the input key, wherein thelocation of the input key does not vary when the orientation of theinformation content is changed.
 51. A method as claimed in claim 49,wherein the step of changing the first orientation is performed inresponse to user input while displaying the information content.
 52. Amethod as claimed in claim 49, further comprising the step of changingthe control content and/or its orientation when changing the orientationof the information content.
 53. A mobile device for displayinginformation content, comprising: a display, having a variable displayarea, for displaying within the variable display area informationcontent; a user input device; and a processor, for controlling thedisplay, arranged to incrementally change the size of the display areawhile displaying the information content, in response to successiveinputs from the user input device.
 54. A mobile device as claimed inclaim 53, wherein the processor in response to input from the user inputchanges the display area size from a first one of a predeterminedplurality of display area sizes to a second one of the predeterminedplurality of display area sizes.
 55. A mobile device as claimed in claim53, wherein the processor in response to input from the user inputvaries the display area while displaying the information content.
 56. Amobile device as claimed in claim 53, comprising a radio frequencytransceiver, wherein the information content originates in anotherdevice and is received by the radio frequency transceiver from theanother device.
 57. A mobile device as claimed in claim 53, wherein theinformation content originates in the device.
 58. A mobile device asclaimed in claim 53, wherein the information content is alphanumerictext data.
 59. A mobile device as claimed in claim 58, wherein theprocessor, provides a text message handling application in which thedisplay area for the text message is variable in response to input fromthe user input device.
 60. A mobile device as claimed in claim 58,wherein the user input device is a rotatable dial.
 61. A method ofcontrolling the display of a mobile device comprising the steps of:displaying information content within a first display area; andincrementally changing the size of the first display area whiledisplaying the information content, in response to successive inputsfrom a user.
 62. A mobile device for displaying information content,comprising: a display for displaying information content in a displayarea of a user-determined size and orientation; a user input device; anda processor, for controlling the display, operable to vary theuser-determined orientation and to incrementally change the size of thedisplay area while displaying the information content, in response tosuccessive inputs from the user input device.
 63. A mobile device asclaimed in claim 62, further comprising at least one input keyassociated with a display; wherein the display is operable to displaycontrol content, adjacent the input key, indicating its function andwherein the control content remains adjacent the input key when thedisplay area is resized.
 64. A mobile device as claimed in claim 62,wherein the display information has a predetermined and fixedorientation with respect to the display area so that a variation in thedisplay area produces a concomitant variation in the orientation of theinformation content.
 65. A mobile device as claimed in claim 62, whereinthe processor in response to first input from the user input devicechanges the display area size from a first one of a predeterminedplurality of display area sizes to a second one of the predeterminedplurality of display area sizes.
 66. A mobile device as claimed in claim62, wherein the processor in response to second input from the userinput devices changes the orientation of the display area from a firstone of a predetermined plurality of orientations to a second one of thepredetermined plurality of orientations.
 67. A mobile device as claimedin claim 66, wherein the processor is arranged to vary the userdetermined orientation of the display area by successive increments of90 degrees rotation about a first origin in the display.
 68. A mobiledevice as claimed in claim 62, wherein the processor, arranged to varythe user-determined size and orientation of the display area while theinformation content is displayed therein.
 69. A mobile device as claimedin claim 62, wherein the display has a plurality of edges and thecontrol content is fixedly positioned at one edge of the display.
 70. Amobile device as claimed in claim 62, wherein the processor, is arrangedto rotate the display area about a first axis and simultaneously rotatethe control content about a second axis, by ninety degrees in responseto second input from the user input device.
 71. A method of controllingthe display of a mobile device comprising the steps of: displayinginformation content within a first display area with a firstorientation; incrementally changing the size of the first display areawhile displaying the information content, in response to successiveinputs from a user; and changing the orientation of the informationcontent to a second orientation.
 72. A method as claimed in claim 71,further comprising the step of displaying control content adjacent aninput key, indicating the key's function wherein the control content ismaintained adjacent the input key.
 73. A method as claimed in claim 71,wherein the steps of changing the first orientation and changing thesize of the first area are performed while displaying the informationcontent.
 74. A method as claimed in claim 71, further comprising thestep of changing the orientation of the control content when changingthe orientation of the information content.
 75. A mobile device asclaimed in claim 47, wherein the control content is positioned at thesecond origin.
 76. A mobile device as claimed in claim 53, wherein theprocessor is arranged to incrementally change the display area withoutvarying the orientation of the information content.
 77. A mobile devicefor displaying information content, comprising: a display for displayinginformation content, including alphanumeric characters, over a pluralityof lines; a user input device; and a processor, for controlling thedisplay, arranged to change the number of alphanumeric characters in aline of the displayed information content, while displaying the whole ofthe information content, in response to input from the user inputdevice.
 78. A method of controlling a display of a mobile devicecomprising the steps of: displaying information content, includingalphanumeric characters, over a plurality of lines; and changing, inresponse to input from a user, the number of alphanumeric characters ina line of the displayed information content, while displaying the wholeof the information content.
 79. A mobile device for displayinginformation content, comprising: a display for displaying informationcontent, including alphanumeric characters, over a plurality of lines ofa user-determined size and orientation; a user input device; and aprocessor, for controlling the display, operable to vary theuser-determined orientation of each line and to change the number ofalphanumeric characters that are displayed in each line, in response toinput from the user input device.
 80. A method of controlling thedisplay of a mobile device comprising the steps of: displaying theinformation content, including alphanumeric characters, over a pluralityof lines; changing the number of alphanumeric characters that aredisplayed in each of the lines, in response to input from a user; andchanging the orientation of the information content to a secondorientation.